Rio Grande City man sentenced to 15 years for transporting methamphetamine near Sarita

CORPUS CHRISTI - A Rio Grande City man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday for transporting methamphetamine in a shampoo bottle through the Sarita checkpoint.

Pedro Guerra-Ruiz, 34, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute about 53 ounces methamphetamine, according to a news release. He also was ordered to five years of supervised release.

Guerra was arrested Feb. 1 at the Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita as a bus passenger, according to the release. Agents searched the bus and noticed Guerra was carrying a backpack with an altered shampoo bottle inside. A Border Patrol canine alerted to the shampoo bottle which had watery consistency. The substance was tested and confirmed as methamphetamine, according to the release. Guerra later said he agreed to transport the methamphetamine to Houston for $1,000.